Stairs track



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STAIRS TRACK 1 Filed July is, 1941 6 wri/vra/e STA/VLf) Jim/MAL Arrow/5y Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNI TED STATES PAT EN T OFFICE STATES-TRACK Stanley Stochmal, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 18, 1941, Serial No. 403,005

'7 Claims. (01. 104-124) This invention relates to a novel form of track adapted to be placed over a stairs, or the like, for wheeling a baby carriage thereover.

It is frequently necessary to wheel. a baby carriage up or down a stairs. In doing this, the wheels have to jump from one stair to the next. This is not only injurious to the carriage, but it also involves a more or less unsatisfactory operation.

According to this invention, a track hasbeen invented thatcan be laid upon the stairs .with provision for anchoring the same against slip- .ping. When not used, the track can be tiltedupwardiy against an adjacent wall or can'be removed as desired.

A feature of the invention resides in a track which can be longitudinally adjusted andtransversely adjusted to accommodate different stairs. The longitudinal adjustment also allows the stairs to be telescoped into a compact form for storage purposes.

"Another feature of the invention resides in a light but nevertheless stifi' and strong-construction that can easily be handled and manipulated by a woman and that is economical to manufacture.

The invention comprises the. novel structure and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and more particularly'pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

vIn the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of this invention .and -in which similar reference numerals refer to 'similarfeatures'in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a side edge elevational view of the track on a stairs shown-in section;

Fig- 2 is a top plan view'of the-track;

Fig. 3 is anienlarged sectional View taken upon the line III-III of Fig.2;

Fig.4 is an enlarged sectionalview taken upon the line IV-'IV of Fig, 2;

-Fig5 is a sectional view upon .the 1ine-VV of Fig. 1 and :Fig. '6 is an enlarged sectional view taken" upon th'eline VI-VI of 'Fig. 2. y

In referring now to the drawing, it will be observed'that the track comprises two adjustable angle bars or track members I and 2 maintained in adjustable spaced relation by transverse rods 3.

The angle member I consists of two telescopic sections 4 and 5. The section 4 has a horizontal flange 4a and an upstanding flange 4b which is folded over and bent downwardly as indicated at 4c (Fig. 6) to form a guide way 4d.

The section 5 also consists of'an angle bar having'a horizontal flange 5a and an upstanding flange 5b which is folded over flat to provide a double thickness as indicated at 50 to'provide greater rigidityand strength. This reinforced fiange'ti'c is designed to fit into the guide way 4d.

When the sections 4 and 5 are in telescopic relation as shown in Fig. 2, it is desirable to maintain the horizontal flanges 4a and 5a in close and luniseparable relation, To this end, a keeper plate 6 :is'secured to the bottom of the horizontal flange 5a. This keeper plate has its forward margin folded up, and over the flange So. as indicated at l in Fig. 6 to form a guard. The guide way 4d and the guide way formed by the keeper "plate and guard I are however, of such a character as to'allow free adjustment of the sections 4 and 5.

The angle member 2 is similar to the angle member I except that it is opposite hand. It consists of two telescopic sections 8 and 9; the section 8 having an upstanding guide way 8a similar to the guide way 4d for receiving the folded or reinforced upstanding flange 9a. of the section 9. A keeper plate 6 secured to the bottom of the horizontal flange 8b of the section 8 and provided with a guard I serves to maintain-the sections in proper relation just as in the rail member I.

The transverse rods 3 that adjustably connect the track members I and 2 extend through bearing eyes I0 fastened at suitable points upon the bottom of the rail members I and 2. These bearing eyes II] are rolledor formed upon short metal plates I I whichare formed with slots I2, through which fastening screws I3 extend. The rods 3 are maintained in the eyes I0 by means of set screws I4. Thus'by loosening the set screws I4,say, upon the rail member 2, it is possible to adjust the rail members land 2 closer together as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This lateral adjustment will provide the desired width of track for baby carriages having differently spaced rear wheels. The slots I2 also allow the rods 3 to be adjusted longitudinally of the track so that the rods'may-be properly positioned with respect to theste'ps'of the stairs to avoid tripping a person, and to provide anchors againstupward thrust.

To securely hold the track upon a stairs against slipping, a number of anchor blocks I5 are secured upon the bottom of the rails I and 2 of the track. These blocks I5 are preferably made of some yieldable material as rubber or rubber substitutes and they are fastened by bolts I6 which extend through slots I! in the bottom flanges of the rails as shown in Fig. 3.

With reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed that these blocks iii are arranged in pairs, one pair upon each section. But as many pairs of blocks may be used as desired. Due to the slots I1, the blocks 15 can be longitudinally adjustable in accordance with the spacing of the steps of the stairs. For each pair of blocks l5 are intended to rest upon the top of a step I8 of the stairs as shown in Fig. 1.

To form yielding buffers or guards at the upper end of the track when the same is in position upon a stairs as shown in Fig. 1, yielding guard pieces 20 or the like (Fig. 5) are atat the upper strip 22. These guard pieces may consist of rubber or the like and may be provided with shanks inserted in the guide ways 4d, or they may be attached in any other man-. 1181. persons feet should they strike the track. The lower end of the track rails may be provided with hooks 2| for engaging the lower step of the stairs to serve as anchors against upward movement.

In accordance with the described construction, it will be evident that the track can be laterally adjusted to provide a narrow gauge or a wider gauge and can be longitudinally adjusted to fit different heights or lengths of stairs. At the same time, the rods 3 and blocks Hi can be adjusted lengthwise of the track so that they will occupy the desired positions in relation to the steps.

When the track is properly positioned upon a stairs as shown in Fig. 1, and in proper adjusted relation for supporting a baby carriage, such carriage may be raised or lowered upon its front wheels as indicated by the carriage 23 shown in dotted lines in such figure.

For shipping and storage purposes one section of the track consisting of the rails 5 and 9 may be withdrawn from the other section consisting of the rails 4 and 8. The rods 3 can also be removed from the rail sections so that the parts can be placed in parallel relation to form a compact handle. However, in use, a partial disassembly may only be desirable by simply withdrawing one track section from its telescopic relation with the other section so that one section can be superposed upon the other section or placed thereagainst.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, it will be realized that the novel form of track is of such a character that it can be very economically produced and easily assembled and adjusted to accommodate different stairs.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction modified without departing from the principles of this invention, and I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art and appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising longitudinally adjustable rail members, transverse members adjustably connecting said rail members, said transverse mem- These buffers or guards will protect abers being adjustable longitudinally of said rail members to bring the same into a predetermined relation with the steps of said stairs, and spaced anchoring means upon the bottom of the rail members adjustable longitudinally of said rail members for the purpose set forth.

2. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs, comprising a pair of track sections telescopicably adjustable for different lengths of stairs, means for connecting and for transversely adjusting said sections for varying the gauge of said track and anchoring blocks upon said sections adjustable longitudinally thereof adapted for resting upon the top of a step of said stairs.

3. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising spaced rails, each rail consisting of a pair of angle sections, each section having a horizontal flange and a vertical flange, the vertical flange of one section comprising parallel parts forming a groove telescopically receiving the vertical flange of the other section, transverse rods between said rails and longitudinally adjustable bearings on said rails for supporting said rods whereby said rods may be longitudinally adjusted upon said track.

4. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising a pair of spaced angle bars, each angle bar consisting of a pair of telescopic sections, one section'having a, guide groove for slidably receiving a portion of the other section, transverse rods connecting said rails and adjustable means on said rails for supporting said rods for longitudinal adjustment of said track and for relative transverse movement with respect to the rails.

5. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising spaced angle bars, yielding anchor blocks longitudinally adjustable upon the bottom of the bars and adapted for engaging the tops of steps for anchoring the track against downward sliding movement and means for connecting said angle bars for adjustment to and from each other.

6. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising longitudinally adjustable rails, means for varying the spacing of said rails comprising transverse rods and bearings on said rails adjustable longitudinally thereof, said bearings supporting said rods for longitudinal adjustment with respect to said rails, and yielding anchor blocks upon the bottom of said rails adapted for engaging the top portions of intermediate steps for supporting said track upon a stairs.

7. A track adapted for positioning upon a stairs comprising spaced rail members, means for longitudinally adjusting said rail members, means for varying the spacing of said rail members, said last named means being longitudinally adjustable with respect to said rails for clearing the stairs when said rail members are longitudinally adjusted a predetermined extent, and anchor blocks longitudinally adjustable of said rails adapted to contact the tops of steps.

STANLEY STOCHMAL. 

